Young Blood: Growing Up in Michigan's Auto Towns (2009-Present)

These photographs investigate children, teenagers, and young adults raised amidst a backdrop of economic decomposition in the neighborhoods of Michigan’s auto towns. Adolescence and early adulthood are characterized by both fragile uncertainty and exciting potential. I see these same characteristics reflected in the rebuilding process of the region.

I grew up skateboarding in many of the actual locations in my photographs. My personal connection to these places allows me to easily converse with my subjects. I am able to capture both the immediacy of the encounter and the unique characteristics that define the people in my images. The choices that individuals make in regards to their own self-image in my photographs indicate clues about their life experiences within the environment where they grew up.

My project takes a regional look at the process of becoming an adult in economically challenged communities that incorporates places like Saginaw, Flint, Lansing, Grand Rapids, and Ypsilanti, as well as the Detroit metropolitan area. All of these cities were part of the auto industry at some point and have dealt with parallel challenges.

Young Blood: Growing Up in Michigan's Auto Towns (2009-Present)

These photographs investigate children, teenagers, and young adults raised amidst a backdrop of economic decomposition in the neighborhoods of Michigan’s auto towns. Adolescence and early adulthood are characterized by both fragile uncertainty and exciting potential. I see these same characteristics reflected in the rebuilding process of the region.

I grew up skateboarding in many of the actual locations in my photographs. My personal connection to these places allows me to easily converse with my subjects. I am able to capture both the immediacy of the encounter and the unique characteristics that define the people in my images. The choices that individuals make in regards to their own self-image in my photographs indicate clues about their life experiences within the environment where they grew up.

My project takes a regional look at the process of becoming an adult in economically challenged communities that incorporates places like Saginaw, Flint, Lansing, Grand Rapids, and Ypsilanti, as well as the Detroit metropolitan area. All of these cities were part of the auto industry at some point and have dealt with parallel challenges.